RSMeans Construction Cost Estimating: Concepts and Practice

Objectives

Today's construction professional, whether project manager or designer, has more responsibilities than ever before. As a result, new skills are required to meet those challenges. In this increasingly cost conscious industry the professional is being asked to keep costs to a minimum and explore more cost-effective options resulting in the need for good estimating skills. For the experienced professionals you can update and enhance your estimating skills . . .building on what you know and helping you to do it better. Novices can learn the basics to create a solid foundation that allows them to apply the basics immediately.

Approach

This class starts with the details of interpreting bid documents ending with the summary of the estimate and the submission of the bid. It is presented in terms that can be applied by all disciplines; whether you are an owner, design professional, general contractor, or subcontractor. The practical skills are identical and have similar application regardless of discipline. Whether an attendee's practice is commercial or residential construction is irrelevant. Everyone benefits from the unique perspective that is derived from understanding the process as practiced by the professional. All parties to the construction process can benefit from knowing how to estimate as a professional.

Who should attend?

Taught by the estimating and engineering experts of RSMeans, Construction Cost Estimating: Concepts and Practice is designed to improve the estimating skills and effectiveness of the professional and help those who work with them to better understand the responsibilities. It's particularly suited to Project Managers, Architects, Engineers, Owner's Representatives, Contractors and anyone who's responsible for budgeting or estimating construction projects in today's complex business environment. This is an excellent primer for taking any of the RSMeans estimating classes such as: Facilities Estimating, Unit Price Estimating, Mechanical & Electrical Estimating, Square Foot Estimating, or Assemblies Estimating in paper or electronic format.

Here’s just a sample of what you’ll learn. . .

Bid documents: Learn how to use the plans and specifications to create the estimate. Learn what information can be expected from each document and how it is applied.

The Takeoff Process: Learn how to derive all of the tasks in the correct quantities which is essential for a professional estimate.

Pricing: Developing pricing, using various pricing sources, and how to understand how subcontractor pricing fits in.

Recapping or summarizing the estimate: Tallying up all of the pricing to arrive at the final number.

Rules for estimating: Review formulas for area and cubic measure, adding waste and adjusting productivity to specific projects.

Subcontractors: Evaluating subcontractors' proposal and prices.

Insurance and bonds: Adding insurances on the work, the employees, and bonding.